Trap.



Patented Feb.- l8, I902;

w. HOLLAND.

TRAP. (Application filed m ne 27, 1901.)

(No Model.)

,moiils mm 00 PHOTO-UTHD., WASHINGTON. a. a

UNITE STATES PATENT WILLIAM J. HOLLAND, OF ERA, TEXAS.

TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,391, dated February18, 1902. Application filed June 27,1901. SerialNo. 66,260. NomedeL) Toalt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. HOLLAND, of Era, in the county of Cookeand State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTraps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in traps designed moreparticularly for catching small animals, but adapted also for catchingfish and larger animals; and it consists in a cage or open box orreceptacle having an opening at one end and a series ofinwardlyconverging guides adjustably held in position in the casing, incombination with adjustable wings secured at their inner ends to thecage adjacent to the converging guides.

My invention further consists in the parts and combination of parts, aswill be more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofmy improved trap. Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section of same. Fig.3is a View in section, showing one of the guides and platform; and Fig. 4is a view of a modified "form of guide.

1 represents a cage or compartment com-' posed of a frame 2, having anopen or reticulated covering 3. This cage or compartment I is preferablyrectangular in shape; but its size and shape will depend altogether onthe use to which it is to be put. One end of the cage is set back, asshown, the center thereof from the bottom preferably to-the top beingopen for the entrance of the animal. Pivotally secured to the standardsforming the 6 frame of the opening are the inwardly-projecting guides 44. These guides are pivotally secured in place by the removable rods 5 5and preferablyprovided at their inner ends with the prongs or points 6,which latter are adapted to prevent the egress of an animal that haspassed into the cage. These guides are provided on their outer faceswith the loops 7, through which the removable securing-rods 8 pass.These rods are adapted to be passed through the top of the cage, throughthe loops 7, and bottom of the cage into the ground and hold the innerpointed ends 6 of the guides solidly in position. These guides vent theescapeof the animal.

4 4 are arranged to converge inwardly, with their inner ends separatedjust sufiicient'to permit of the free and ready passage into the cage ofthe animal to be trapped, their pointed ends being sufficiently closetogether as to pre- The box or cage is provided at its top'or end with asuitable door 9, through which the animal, game, or fish may be removed.

In order to make the trap effective for animals of varying size, Iprovide the movable platform 10. This platform is pivoted at its frontend to the open end of the cage or box immediately in rear of saidopening and is connected at its rear end with the rods 11 11, whichlatter pass up through the open top of the cage and are provided withloops 12 12,

throughwhich the holding pin or rod 13 passes. When this platform 10 isused, the guides 4 4 are necessarilyprovided with inclinedlower edges topermit the platform to be. raised to an inclined position. With thisconstruction it will be seen that the animal entering the cage passes upthe platform and in order to reach the bait jumps to the floor of thecage. The inner end of this platform isprovided with prongs 14, andhence it will be seen that after the animal has once passed between theguides 4 4 it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for it toreach the platform and "escape, thus making it possible to catch ratsand mice or other animals or'fowls varying in size with a constant andunvarying opening. This opening of course can be varied for animals ofvarious sizes; but each adj ustment will be effective for differentbodies within reasonable limits. 7

When the deviceis used for capturing fowls, either wild or domestic, orfor catching fish, the platform 10 should be lowered onto the floor ofthe cage and guides 15, substantially as shown in Fig. 4, havingparallel upper and lower edges, be employedin lieu of the guides 4 4,having inclined edges, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In order to direct the animals to the cage, I prefer to provide thelatter with two flexible side wings 16 16, provided at intervals withthe stakes or posts 17, designed to be driven into the ground forholding the wings in their upright positions.

This trap is admirably adapted for catching rats, mice, rabbits, andother smaller animals and is also particularly adapted for catchingfish. It could also be used for trapping the larger animals, such as thehorse and cow, and I have found that by leaving the cage open-thatis tosay, by keeping the guides sufliciently far apart to permit of the readyingress and egress of the animals, particularly domestic animals andfowls and by keeping the cage supplied with bait they become accustomedto the cage and are readily driven into it when wanted.

In my device, which is preferably made wholly of metal, there are noswinging or tilting parts to get out of order. Hence theliability toinjury or failure to operate at the proper time is reduced to a minimum.

It is evident that changes in the construction and relative arrangementof the several parts might be made without avoiding my invention, andhence I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to theparticular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described;but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a trap, the combination with a cage having an ingress-openingtherein, of hinged guides converginginwardly from said ingressopeningand removable fastening-rods for locking the said guides in place atdifferent adjustments.

2. In a trap, the combination with a cage having an ingress-openingtherein, of guides having pointed innerends and converging inwardly fromsaid ingress-opening and fastening-rods pivotally connecting said guidesto the cage and removable rods for locking the said guides in place atdifferent adjustments.

3. In a trap, the combination with a cage having an ingress-openingtherein, of guides removably secured to said cage adjacent to saidopening, rods for locking said guides in place and an adjustableplatform located below said guides, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a trap, the combination with a cage having an ingress-openingtherein, of a platform Within said cage adjacent to base of the cage andpivoted at the base of said opening, adjusting-rods secured to the freeinner end of said platform and adjustable guides on opposite sides ofthe ingress-opening and above said platform.

5. In a trap, the combination with a cage having an iugressopening,movable wings connected to the outside of said cage on opposite sides ofsaid opening and removable pins forsecuring said wings at any desiredadjust ment, of guides pivoted to the cage on opposite sides of theopening and projecting inwardly into the cage and adjustable devicesengaging said guides forlockingthem in place.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscrib ing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. HOLLAND.

Witnesses: S. G. NOTTINGHAM, A. W. BRIGHT.

